What Benefits Are Available from Insurance in a Texas Wrongful Death Case?

Losing a loved one is guaranteed to send shockwaves through your family. As well as the unavoidable trauma, those left behind frequently have to contend with financial hardships as a direct result of their bereavement. For example, medical expenses and funeral costs- not to mention loss of income- mount up fast. In some circumstances, a wrongful death claim performed by an experienced negligent death attorney in West Houston might be your best bet to mitigate against your losses and to obtain compensation. This might include wrongful death insurance benefits.

What insurance benefits are available?

-Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Survivor Benefits

Personal Injury Protection coverage can sometimes help families of the deceased to cover medical bills and other key expenses.

-Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)

If your loved one’s death was caused by a driver without the legally required insurance, a UM or UIM policy can provide additional coverage.

-Personal Insurance Coverage

Personal insurance typically comes into play across a large number of wrongful death suits. Unfortunately, personal insurance coverage is unlikely to cover the entirety of the family’s losses.

-Umbrella Policies

An umbrella policy is designed to complement existing home or vehicle insurance, and to provide a bit of extra coverage in case of instances of legal liability. In the event that the party responsible for the loss of your loved one has an active umbrella policy, your claim will likely be filed against their insurance provider.

-Business Insurance Policies

If the wrongful death is the result of either an accident or malicious act on the part of an employee of a business (or for whom the business is liable), then the business itself may be included in the claim.

From a business perspective, wrongful death claims are handled in an identical fashion to any other standard claim for personal injury. If the responsibility of the business (or employee) is effectively established, then the business’s liability insurance may cover the claim.

How do I negotiate insurance benefits in a Wrongful Death Claim?

Generally speaking, insurance providers are unlikely to pay out the full value of a wrongful death claim. Conversely, the family of the deceased will no doubt be seeking to obtain their full legal entitlement. With that in mind, negotiations may take place as part of the process. That means a protracted period of communication between you (or your legal representative) and the insurer. While this can seem like a distressing and unnecessary aspect of the case, there are several things you can do to minimize the need for lengthy negotiations, and to increase your chance of getting the settlement you deserve.

A Wrongful Death Attorney can help with your claim

Putting together a wrongful death claim can be a massive undertaking for a family which is already in mourning. It requires a keen attention to detail, a wealth of resources, not to mention an encyclopedic knowledge of wrongful death law. Hiring an attorney who is a specialist in this area is a great idea, as they will be able to assist you with the paperwork from start to finish, and will do everything in their power to obtain your full benefit entitlement under the law.